Why do you need a toll-free number service?

Customers demand seamless communication. So, providing a seamless communication experience is essential for a successful business. That means that always being connected and available is a must and you have to make it a priority, regardless of your business.

A toll free number solution might be a multichannel communication platform worth investing in. Simply because it enables customers to reach you, whenever, without spending a dime.

Whether it is a query about your product or any other issue, being able to contact a business without being charged for the call is surely a plus. This makes toll-free numbers a customer engagement tool that any organization can rely on. In addition to that, another important benefit toll-free services can offer is empowering your marketing and branding initiatives.

Use of toll-free number services across industries

In the next few minutes, we will see how toll-free numbers are being used in different industries to improve the customer experience.

1. Marketing & Advertising

Building a distinctive and memorable presence is no easy task. This is where a toll-free number comes in. With an easy-to-remember and good-looking number (aka vanity number), brands can achieve an increase in awareness and recall. This is facilitated as a business can include its brand name in an alpha-numeric form. Obviously, the potential customers can associate the number with a business and call more frequently to generate higher sales. Businesses can also have specific toll-free numbers for individual campaigns such as those for television, print, billboards, or the web. These numbers can be used to track a campaign’s performance to find the most effective campaign strategy.

2. Government and non-profit organizations

Government agencies often use toll-free numbers to deliver information, support, advice, and referrals to the callers in need. These can range from emergency helplines in the case of natural disasters, to reporting crime, to women’s safety, and public service announcements. Similarly, in the case of non-profit organizations, toll-free numbers are used to garner support for a cause through donations.

3. Healthcare

Medical emergencies, however big or small, require an immediate medical response. In fact, ambulances were the first area to implement toll-free numbers. That is why medical helplines for consultation, ambulance, doctor or paramedic are still being widely used.

Another way toll-free numbers are used in the healthcare industry to tackle administration challenges. Long appointment queues are one of the primary reasons for frustration. With a toll-free solution, medical institutions can automatically book multiple appointments simultaneously, on the same number. This saves time for both patients and hospitals.

Finally, toll-free numbers can be integrated with CRM platforms, so patient management can be better handled. This makes it easy for hospitals to maintain a patient’s history, such as their previous medical conditions. This is vital in case of emergencies, as a patient’s history can help in critical life and death situations.

4. Entertainment

Toll-free number solutions are widely used in the entertainment industry as voting hotlines to decide a winner. This viewer voting format has become a norm for reality shows and games around the world. Each participant is assigned a specific number and viewers can call to cast their votes. The number of calls received can also be used to understand how well the show is doing.

5. Retail & Ecommerce

Customers love toll-free phone support. It is a great way for their customer service issues and inquiries to be solved immediately. That is why a lot of businesses in the retail and e-commerce industry use them. For instance, if a customer has questions about an item they are thinking of buying, they will go ahead and call the toll-free number. After all, they won’t have to worry about phone charges. And the more easily customers can reach a business, the more likely they will engage and transact with it.

6. Tourism & Travel

International toll-free numbers are critical for the tourism and travel industry. Whether we are talking about hotel chains, restaurants, or airlines, businesses in this industry receive a huge amount of calls. From booking requests to confirmations and cancellations, they need to have an international toll-free number to accommodate the needs of travelers. If a business does not have one, customers will hesitate to make the call. This can potentially hurt your business, as they might just decide to work with another business to get what they need. On the other hand, an international toll-free number can help raise marketing ROI, build credibility, and improve global customer care efforts.

7. Financial institutions

Financial companies provide valuable services that need clear and uninterrupted communication with clients. Clients very often contact them with different queries, to make payments, notify possible fraudulent activity, and much more. As they manage a large number of incoming calls, it is essential that they offer efficient ways for calls to come through. Toll-free numbers are one way to ensure clients don't have to hesitate before calling your service. By using a toll-free service bank clients feel more confident doing business with them. They feel that they can reach them quickly and that they are always accessible. This is important in building long-lasting relationships based on trust.

To sum up

Toll-free phone numbers are more than a means of communication for businesses. Regardless of industry, they are a great marketing tool that can help your business stand out from its competition. They can increase credibility and customer loyalty and improve your customer service. Once you implement them, you will be able to improve your numbers in no time, by gaining more leads and tapping into new markets. So, why wait. Let customers reach you via a Toll-free Number from Routee. Make your business more accessible to them and remove all calling costs for them! Get your toll-free number today and see the difference!

Why do you need a number lookup service?

Do you have a large customer database? Are you unsure of the validity of the mobile numbers? Are you dealing with a CRM where both mobile numbers and landlines are combined?

Businesses from a range of different industries need a number lookup service (also known as HLR lookup). The reason is that they might be spending more than necessary on their SMS messaging, without even knowing it. By using the service properly businesses can strengthen their SMS marketing campaign. They will be able to clean up their lists from the deactivated numbers, switched off, or roaming. In this way, they will be able to update their databases and only keep the numbers that are valid and active. Number lookup is a cost-effective service as it is less costly to perform than to send a text message to a customer who may never receive it.

Most common uses of number lookup service

The most common solutions businesses look for when using a number lookup service, are:

• Database Cleansing: Database clean-up, by checking for active/inactive mobile numbers to cut unnecessary costs
• Portability: Resolve a number of portability issues to optimize message and voice routing, and save money.
• Roaming: Provide info about the numbers in roaming to optimize routing, reduce costs, prevent fraud, and more.

Use of number lookup services across industries

1. Call centers

Wasting time and money calling dead numbers can hurt call centers. Taking the time to perform regular number lookups is an important task for them. With clean and contactable data they can reach higher returns from their campaigns. In addition, with the removal of inactive mobile phone numbers staff’s morale can be boosted. Hearing repeating dead-tones can be discouraging.

2. Retail

Retailers, both online and offline, regularly contact their customers with sale and purchase information, special offers, and discount codes. They must verify numbers, however big is their customer list. By doing so, they can ensure that the message reaches the maximum number of people.

Online retailers can use a lookup service to confirm their customers’ numbers before sending messages on order confirmation and shipping information. This way customers feel appreciated and see that the retailer went the extra mile to safeguard their online orders.

3. Banking

Banks face the continued threat and concern of fraud. That is why they commonly use SMS to complete the two-step verification process. A process that is required for account security and fraud prevention. It goes without saying that they need to make sure that the phone numbers they hold are valid and reachable. With a lookup service, they can verify the phone numbers of millions of people and optimize the delivery of OTPs.

4. Mobile Applications

App developers can make use of number lookup in a variety of ways. First and foremost, they can verify if their new or prospective customers are who they say they are. Sending a verification message to phone number owners is common to ensure that they provided them with a valid and active number.

Secondly, they can use it to ensure that leads provide them with a contactable number when signing up so they can reach them at a later date.

5. Healthcare

Medical centers, as well as private practice professionals, all have vast databases with patient data. They regularly interact with their patients to send information on appointments, clinical examination results, reminders, and information messages. An HLR (Home Location Register) service makes sure they reach the right people on the right number, cross-referenced with their CRM platform.

6. Education

Educational institutions regularly send text and phone messages to students, parents and alumni with news, information and appointments. These are often very costly. However, many of the recipients will not respond, as their contact information has changed. As cost-efficient is important to them, a phone number search using a lookup service will benefit educational institutions.It will help them improve the efficiency of their communications by reaching valid numbers. This is especially true with alumni communication and fundraising campaigns since this kind of service will ensure more alumni will respond.

To sum up

Implementing a number lookup service into the data cleaning procedures can help businesses across the spectrum. They can use it to uncover a wealth of valuable data about phone numbers and of course increase customer contact accuracy. It is a fast, effective, inexpensive, and accurate process, which can ensure that messages always reach the target.

With Routee’s Number Lookup Service, businesses across industries can gather data about any cell phone number worldwide. Our easy-to-use API makes it all a lot simpler. Businesses just have to submit the numbers they want to check. Then Routee will present them with information about the number validity, format, and location. That’s it! Their lists will be clean and up to date, while SMS marketing costs will be reduced.

Look (it) up yourself!

What is click-to-call?

Click-to-call (also called click-to-talk, click-to-dial, or click-to-text) refers to a service that enables an individual to click a button or link on a website, to be connected with another individual in real-time. The technology intends to help save time so customers don’t have to manually enter business phone numbers into their phone or interrupt their web browser to make a phone call. In just one click customers can automatically “call” a number, putting them in touch with a live staff member. What makes the technology stand out is that it is faster than email, easier than traditional phone calls and has a higher conversion rate than any other medium.

How does click to call work?

Simple. Here are 3 ways in which it works.

• Click to request a callback

Customer clicks a button and enters their phone number. An agent calls the customer on their phone. The call can either be made immediately, or customers can select a preferred time.

• VoIP click to call

The most common version of click to call, also known as a web call. A customer clicks a button and is directly connected to an agent using their computer’s microphone and speaker.

• Click to call on a smartphone

A customer clicks a call button on their mobile and a normal phone call is initiated from their phone.

What are the Benefits of click-to-call?

You may believe that in this digital day and age, consumers no longer make calls. You are wrong. Click-to-call has been proven to be extremely effective for businesses across industries. So, let’s take a look at how click-to-call can benefit your business:

1. Simplify communication and provide superior service

All in all, click-to-call simplifies things, taking advantage of the customer’s need for convenience. With a single click, you can place the call to the assigned number. And when you make things easy for people, they will remember it and will surely reward you. Take for example a site visitor using their smartphone to search for services and products. They are likely to have questions or want other information that might not be readily available. A website equipped with the click-to-call button is likely to receive a phone call from that user. That is because when it comes to an inquiry, consumers prefer phone contact over any other alternative, including email, self-service tools, and text chat. After all, it is the easiest way to easily find more details about the service or product they are actually interested in or solve issues and queries quicker.

Additionally, a fully web-based click-to-call exchange offers businesses many more engagement capabilities, when compared to a traditional phone call which is limited to simple voice interaction. With click-to-call functionality, agents and consumers can browse through the website together. Being able to seamlessly transition to other contact channels, such as live chat, video call, and co-browsing, agents can best serve customers and increase first-time resolution rates.

‍2. Gather more customer journey data

With a click-to-call button, tracking conversations can be achieved with greater ease, as you know what web page customers have called you from! This data can in turn be very powerful for optimizing your customer journey mapping. Take for example if the data shows a lot of customers clicking to call on one specific page. This suggests that the information on that page is not very clear. With this knowledge, businesses can optimize the copy, visuals and UX to improve the customer journey. In addition, by gathering this data businesses can empower their agents. The more data agents have available, the more effective and productive they can be. Click to call can provide them with data such as what web page a customer is calling from, which in turn is vital as it provides a context to solve the customer’s problem. With this piece of extra information, interaction can be streamlined, making agents more effective at solving problems and improving first-time resolution rates.

‍3. Increase reach and conversions

76% of consumers say they would use click-to-call features to schedule an appointment for local services. Proving once again how effective a tool it is for getting customers to get in touch with you. And as we all know, more contact = more conversions! Click-to-call interactions have a conversion rate of between 5% and 25% (depending on the industry), which is 4 times higher than online conversions. It makes sense. Most of the callers are hot leads and it is rather easy to turn a hot lead into a customer. A friendly web call can often convince them to make the choice, at the spot. What’s more, click-to-call services give your international clients an incentive to reach you from around the world, without having to worry about long-distance costs. Every customer can contact you through the same button, without paying international calling charges. And you can assist them from any country in the world, even with remote teams.

‍4. Manage calls efficiently

Some days are busier than others. Some hours of the day too. The last thing you need is to receive a flood of calls during peak hours and leave your customers waiting to finally speak with a human. With click-to-call, you can call back the customer at a time that they predefine would work best for them. This ensures that they are reached whenever you are both best available and you get to continue operations without losing out on valuable leads and existing customers. By managing the operations of phone calls, your business will be open to customers whenever it is best suitable and available for both parties. Additionally, when there’s a busy line to your office, you don’t have to keep callers waiting, while getting connected to the designated department. Businesses can dedicate a helpline for each department, as soon as an agent is available.

‍5. Save money and increase return

Last but not least, the technology also offers businesses several monetary benefits. First of all, web calls are cheaper than phone calls. You don’t have to pay for a traditional phone line or the associated charges. Secondly, since you do not need to have employees and phone numbers in all the countries where your business reaches. This can help you to start winning customers in locations where you have no local presence. Lastly, as previously stated click to call is a very effective tool in increasing contact and conversions. As a result, it has a very high return on investment (ROI). According to research, click-to-call technology has proven to increase ROI by 143% on average!

‍How to add click to call to your website?

As we discussed in this post, click-to-call can provide a more efficient and quicker means to connect with your customers. This in turn can help you engage with them, solve their problems and remove any obstacles for a seamless communication process. In your efforts to achieve effective business-customer communication, we strongly recommend using a Click to call feature on your website. So, if you are ready to simplify communications for your customers and connect with them when they want to talk, now is the time to get started. Using Click-to-Call from Routee across your business is the perfect way to build your brand loyalty and make meaningful personal connections with each customer.

What is Text-To-Speech (TTS)?

Text-to-speech, also termed TTS, enables brands, companies, and organizations to convert written text into natural-sounding audio. It is a form of supportive technology that reads out digital texts in a variety of languages and voices. TTS technology is used on computers, smartphones, and tablets. It is widely accepted for its flexibility, as it provides an alternative for brands to communicate with users when reading a screen is either not possible or inconvenient.

Although first used as an accessibility tool, the technology has evolved over the years. Advancements in digital content production and rising consumption of mobile devices, coupled with increasing internet penetration, have boosted the demand for text-to-speech technology. Nowadays, TTS services produce high-quality, natural-sounding speech outputs. These can be voices representing different ages and genders, with different pitches, rates, and pronunciations. As a result, TTS has the potential to increase return on investment (ROI) by significant numbers.

The Benefits of Text-To-Speech​

So now that you know what text-to-speech is, let’s take a look at some ways it can benefit your business:

1. Increases Content Reach

15-20% of the worldwide population has some form of language-based learning disability. TTS makes content accessible to that population. It also makes content accessible to those with literacy difficulties or reduced vision. Websites applying TTS technology can attract 774 million illiterate adults around the world and 285 million people with visual impairments. Although it provides huge support for the abovementioned populations, speech enabling web content does not interfere with usability for those without disabilities. Making digital content accessible in multiple forms also aids other populations, including older users and foreign speakers.

2. Enhances customer experience

Adding an alternative way to consume content online creates an easier and better user experience. Audible online content helps customers better understand your message by translating written text to audio. TTS is said to increase customer comprehension and enhance the overall message. By doing so, visitors are far more likely to return to your website, as a result of the positive experiences they have had. Also, a positive customer experience increases the chances for positive word of mouth.

3. Saves time and money

Speech-enabling customer care minimizes human agent workload, accelerates processes, and issues can be solved quickly and easily. On the other hand with the use of TTS technology, online content can be speech-enabled, with minimum maintenance. In this way, organizations save a significant amount of money on operational costs.

4. Effective brand building

Customer experience lies at the heart of your brand building. TTS helps to enhance the customer journey across different touchpoints, building loyalty and differentiating companies from their competitors.
A single, natural, and human-like voice used across multiple contact points can help build consistency in the brand while enabling emotional branding. All these are factors that contribute to effective brand building and an improved customer experience.

5. Facilitates Learning

There exist several different styles of learning. Some individuals prefer to learn by hearing, some by seeing, others by reading, some by doing, and others by asking questions. Most prefer a combination. By enabling both visual and audio presentation, text-to-speech helps improve comprehension, recall, and vocabulary skills, while boosting motivation and confidence.

The technology also makes employee learning programs easier to grasp and allows for learning, anywhere and at any time. This results in better employee performance which benefits the business.

6. Enhances Mobility

Users are spending an increasing amount of time on their mobile devices, reading and consuming content. Text to speech gives them the option to consume content on the go. This way users can listen to a news or blog article, a PDF document, or an e-book in any environment that is convenient for them. TTS provides people the convenience of reading anything they want, without having to scroll through it.

To sum up

One thing is for certain, text to speech has the potential to make things easier and better. From increasing your digital content’s reach to delivering an enhanced end-user experience. TTS technology gives access to your online content on mobile devices, increases engagement, and ensures that information is available in both written and audio formats. And all of this while minimizing costs. All in all, text-to-speech allows you to respond to the different needs and desires of each user in terms of how they want to interact with your offering. So, if you are ready to give your words a voice, Routee’s TTS service can complement your communication using natural sounding voices and personalized messages. It is time you give it a try!

What is Number Lookup?

Number lookup or HRL lookup can help you turn your contact numbers into marketing data. It is a tool that enables you to discover the details behind a phone number. This information can help you verify and format numbers, recognize the carrier and number type, and even learn the owner’s name. Businesses spend a lot more money than needed, on their SMS messaging, for example, when they don’t know if the mobile numbers they use are active.

Nowadays, number lookup has found applications in campaigns and programs based on mobile phone numbers. That way organizations can automatically check the validity and situation of the phone numbers they use, use the proper process and reduce cost. Number lookup can help you check your user database, the way they behave and stay away from wrong and invalid numbers. You can prevent extra cost by using it to “clean” your database before starting any of your campaigns. Number Lookup can help you know your clients better, check when they are going away, and give them customized services.

How does it work?

Number lookup gives you access to mobile carriers' information about the phone numbers on their networks. That means that you get the data you need about any mobile number, in real-time, all over the world. Using a Number lookup against all numbers in your database defines which numbers are valid and can be reached. With the additional info, it provides about mobile numbers you can keep your database clean by removing numbers with invalid area codes, numbers that are too long or too short, etc.

What Number lookup can tell you?

A Number lookup “asks” your mobile network operator and delivers information about a specific mobile number. The information you receive is:

• The country the SIM is registered
• If the SIM is active or not
• If the phone is on or off
• If the phone is connected to a network. Where the mobile number can not be reached, an explanation is given. You can then decide whether the number should be retained in your database.
  

Benefits of Number lookups

Number lookup can help a business in more than one way. Let’s see how yours can benefit from its use:

• Improve marketing functions

Targeting an updated database of clients makes your campaign more efficient before it even starts.

• Remove the right numbers

Number lookup can “tell the difference” between an invalid number and a number with a temporary problem. So you can keep your database clean, without losing any valuable contacts.

• Changes message deliverability

When we say changes, we mean improves. By using only valid numbers for your SMS campaigns, you automatically improve your message deliverability.

• Recognizes fraudulent numbers

Number lookup tracks false numbers so that you can remove them from your database and keep it clean.

• Helps your business stay spam-compliant

If the mobile number is no longer connected with an individual, continued messaging may breach spam legislation.

How can you use Number lookup?

Clean your database
Use number lookup to Identify unused and inactive contact numbers in your business’s databases to reduce costs on mobile messaging and landline calls.

Portability
Enable real-time number portability lookups to advance your message and voice routing.

Improve delivery rate success
Clean your lists and improve routing before sending messages and voice calls. Verify if a phone number is valid, reachable, and approachable.

Final Thoughts

People often change their numbers, providers, go into roaming, etc. A business can improve its campaign’s efficiency and reduce cost when it works with a clean database and know which numbers are in use or which network its customers are using at the time. So, don’t stay behind! Get on board with Routee and gather the data you need on any mobile number worldwide!